First recipient of rodeo-funded scholarship is following in fallen officer’s footsteps

The recipient of the first Dylan Harrison scholarship has the same passion for helping others as the late law officer, something Harrison’s mother has seen up close.

Dayten Yarbrough stood behind Harrison’s family just before the start of the second Shields & Spurs Pro Rodeo last weekend at the Southern Pines Ag & Expo Arena. Harrison’s father, Jeff, and mother, Kathy, announced Yarbrough as the first recipient of the Harrison scholarship, which came from funds raised from the Shields & Spurs event last year.

“I knew what he had done, and he is just a good-hearted, selfless boy,” Kathy said. “I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Dylan would have picked him as well. He would have handpicked him.” 

Yarbrough, who graduated from West Laurens High School last May, is currently taking a fire class until January and is testing for his National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Once he passes that tests Yarbrough will get to work in an ambulance.

“It was definitely a honor when I got the scholarship,” Yarbrough said. “It has given me the courage to go out and be good in the community like Dylan was. I am grateful Mrs. Kathy and them thought of me.” 

Yarbrough knew of Harrison but did not know him personally. He was glad to know that he walked the same hallways that Harrison did when he attended WLHS.

“At West Laurens, we are definitely pushing more public safety,” said Yarbrough, adding that the school has an emergency medical technician, emergency medical responder and fire courses. 

“It really gets kids my age into it. Laurens County EMS and Laurens County Fire Department does a really good job putting this on for people like me.”

Yarbrough’s ultimate goal is to be a flight nurse on Air Evac.

“I want to help people to the best extent that I can,” he said. “Me being as small as I am, I feel like that would be the perfect job for me. The helicopter space is so small, and I love helping others.”

Yarbrough is currently a youth leader at Baker Baptist Church. Besides helping people physically, he also likes to help them spiritually.

“I love getting into our community to help people and spread the gospel while I’m doing it,” Yarbrough said. “I have worked on an ambulance for seven months to do clinicals and I did 12-hour shifts. I kind of have a good idea what I would be doing. That’s how I know this is for me.”  

Harrison, who was a member of the Oconee Drug Task Force, was killed in the line of duty on Oct. 9, 2021 outside the Alamo Police Department. That was his first shift working part-time for the APD. 

Funds from this rodeo will help the foundation assist others with their public safety careers.

“I am hoping that this rodeo will get bigger each year,” Kathy said. “We have more law enforcement here this year. The businesses and sponsors have been wonderful. It means the world to us that so many people have come out.”

She also thanked Misty Brantley, the director and founder of the rodeo, for what she put to making the rodeo a success.

“She is amazing,” Kathy said. “(Brantley) has put so much into this.”

Pros — and amateurs — compete at the second annual Shields & Spurs Rodeo at Southern Pines/DANNY SCARBORO